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This sweet and spicy dinner is easy to keep on the lighter side. The marmalade topping takes the edge off the blackened, Cajun-style chicken, and it’s easy to pull everything together by serving over a bed of rice and vegetables. The best part?With well under 20 minutes of active prep time, you’ll have time to shower and set your fantasy football lineup before that soon-to-be-special someone arrives.

14 Ingredients

For blackening seasoning:

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne

1 tablespoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

For chicken

2 1/2 cups yellow or brown rice

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 package (16 ounces) frozen mixed vegetables

1/4 cup orange marmalade

Directions

Combine all seasoning ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook rice according to package directions.

While rice is cooking, coat chicken in a liberal dose of blackening seasoning. Sear chicken for 1 minute on each side until nicely blackened and crisp. Transfer to a nonstick baking dish (or oven-safe pan) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes (depending on thickness of meat), or until juices run clear.

Heat frozen vegetables in the oven or microwave. Mix with cooked rice and divide among four plates.

Plate 1 chicken breast over rice mixture, and add 1 dollop marmalade on top of each.